“NFC and contactless chip provider Inside Secure is to acquire the embedded security systems division of Authentec, the fingerprint and secure solutions specialist which Apple agreed to buy for US$356m in July 2012,” Sarah Clark reports for NFC World.The transaction is valued at up to US$48 million.”

“Authentec’s Embedded Security Solutions (ESS) division designs, develops and sells a range of embedded security solutions, centered on the use of encryption algorithms and security blocks to protect data and ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability. ESS offers three product lines: Content Protection, Security Toolkit and Semiconductor IP,” Clark reports. “ESS products are used in hundreds of millions of mobile and networking products to ensure data privacy for businesses and individuals. Customers include Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, HBO, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Sky and Texas Instruments. ESS has 79 staff and sales of $25.3m in 2011 and $21.4m in the first nine months of 2012.”

Clark reports, “The sale suggests that Apple’s interest in acquiring Authentec lies with the company’s innovative combined fingerprint and NFC solution, which is not part of the division being acquired by Inside Secure, and will lead to renewed speculation that Apple will include NFC in future iPhones and other devices.”

As a daily user of AuthenTec SW and a UPEK ( a company merged with AuthenTec previously) Eikon fingerprint scanner, I ask Apple why have they discontinued sale of the product? It harms not one person or project at Apple to continue to sell the USB Fingerprint scanners and software unless you plan on integrating it into future Mac keyboards.